Annual Wage Review 2026-27 — Decision Tracker & Pay Impact Calculator
Track the Fair Work Commission's 2026-27 Annual Wage Review decision (announced early June 2026, effective 1 July 2026). Run scenarios on how different % increases would affect your pay.
Last verified: 1 July 2025The FWC decides in early June. Submissions range from 2.0% (small business) to 5.0% (ACTU). The midpoint of past 5 decisions is ~4.2%. Calculate your impact below — we update with the actual % within hours of the announcement.
Status — May 2026
Submissions phase complete. The Expert Panel is deliberating. Decision expected first or second week of June 2026. New rates effective 1 July 2026.We will update this page within hours of the announcement.
Calculate your pay impact
Enter your current base hourly rate and pick a scenario. See what the eventual decision will mean for your weekly, fortnightly, and annual pay.
Default $24.95 = current National Minimum Wage. Use your award/award level rate for a personalised result.
Pick a position from the submissions, or use the 5-year historical average.
Your new hourly rate
$25.82/hr
That's +$0.87/hr on your current rate.
| Period | Current | New | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $24.95 | $25.82 | +$0.87 |
| Weekly (38h) | $948.10 | $981.28 | +$33.18 |
| Fortnightly | $1,896.20 | $1,962.57 | +$66.37 |
| Annual | $49,301.20 | $51,026.74 | +$1,725.54 |
Calculations assume 38 ordinary hours per week × 52 weeks per year. Excludes overtime, penalty rates, casual loading, and tax. The actual decision percentage is announced in early June.
2026-27 Submissions to the Expert Panel
What the major parties have argued for in their submissions. The FWC weighs these against inflation, productivity, and labour market data.
| Party | Position | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| ACTU (unions) | +5.0% real wage increase | Cost of living, productivity catch-up. |
| Australian Industry Group (employers) | +2.5% (cap) | Inflation slowing, business pressure. |
| Australian Council of Small Business | +2.0% | Small business margin pressure. |
| Australian Government | Real wage increase consistent with sustainable growth | Treasury supports above-inflation increase but no specific number. |
| Fair Work Ombudsman | Neutral / observer | Provides data but does not advocate a number. |
Past 5 Annual Wage Review decisions
Historical context. The 5-year average increase is approximately 4.2%.
| Review year | % increase | New min wage | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 3.75% | $24.95/hr | 1 July 2025 |
| 2023-24 | 3.75% | $24.10/hr | 1 July 2024 |
| 2022-23 | 5.75% | $23.23/hr | 1 July 2023 |
| 2021-22 | 5.20% | $21.97/hr | 1 July 2022 |
| 2020-21 | 2.50% | $20.33/hr | 1 July 2021 |
Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decisions, 2021-2025.
How the Annual Wage Review works
- January-March: Statement of Issues from the Expert Panel. Public consultation opens.
- March-May: Written submissions from unions, employers, government, FWO, ACOSS, and academic experts.
- May: Public hearings. Each major party makes oral arguments.
- Early June: Decision announced. The National Minimum Wage and all Modern Award rates are determined.
- 1 July: New rates take effect. Employers must pay updated rates from this date.
Who is affected
National Minimum Wage
~0.7% of workers (~70,000 employees) paid the unrounded floor with no award coverage.
Modern Award employees
~22% of workers (~2.4 million employees) paid against a Modern Award rate.
Enterprise agreement employees
May be benchmarked against awards depending on agreement terms.
Above-award employees
Often re-benchmarked indirectly when employers update their pay structures.
Get an alert when the FWC decision drops
We email you within 1 hour of the decision being announced — with the % increase, the new rates, and what it means for your pay. No spam.
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All FWM pay tools auto-update
The moment the decision drops we update every pay rate in the FWM toolset. These are the tools that get refreshed:
Related Articles
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Minimum Wage History Australia: 2025 vs 2026 Comparison & Annual IncreasesTrack Australia's minimum wage increases from 2024 to 2026. Compare $23.23/hr (2024) to $24.95/hr (2025) to the upcoming July 2026 rate. Percentage increases, FWC annual review timeline, and how award rates change.
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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.